Abnormal Dosage Compensation of Reporter Genes Driven by the Drosophila Glass Multiple Reporter (GMR) Enhancer-Promoter
2011

Importance of Promoter for Dosage Compensation in Drosophila

publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Corey Laverty, Fang Li, Esther J. Belikoff, Maxwell J. Scott

Primary Institution: Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Hypothesis

Why are genes driven by the glass multiple reporter (GMR) enhancer-promoter not dosage compensated at X-linked sites?

Conclusion

The study concludes that the gene promoter can affect MSL complex-mediated upregulation and dosage compensation.

Supporting Evidence

  • GMR-driven genes are not dosage compensated at X-linked sites.
  • Replacement of the hsp70 minimal promoter with a minimal promoter from the X-linked 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase gene restored partial dosage compensation.
  • Binding sites for GAGA and DREF factors upstream of the GMR promoter led to significantly higher lacZ expression in males than females.

Takeaway

This study found that the type of promoter used in genes can change how well they are compensated for dosage differences between males and females in fruit flies.

Methodology

The researchers used phiC31 integrase-mediated targeted integration to measure expression of lacZ reporter genes driven by GMR or armadillo promoters at X-linked sites.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on the GMR enhancer-promoter and may not generalize to other promoters or contexts.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0020455

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